Paul Rudolph’s Iconic Walker Guest House To Be Re-Constructed

WALKER GUEST HOUSE

I was reading my daily edition of ArchDaily earlier this week, when I came across an article on the Walker Guest House in Sarasota, Florida.  It caught my I 

What I love about this modernist house is its very specific approach to sustainable design.

INTERIOR, WALKER GUEST HOUSE

The Walker Guest House was built in 1952 characterized by a particular attention to climate and terrain. Using only standard, locally sourced materials, the Walker Guest House pays respect to its environmental context of southwest Florida. Large windows and screens on all four sides of the house allow air to flow throughout the dwelling, removing the need for air-conditioning whilst simultaneously providing generous views out towards the landscape.

One of the more whimsical components of the cottage are the series of ropes and pulleys, counterbalanced by large red concrete balls, that control the external window shades. These shades ensure flexibility by providing the dwelling with security, permeability and shelter from the sun. This allows the architecture to remain dynamic, adapting to the changing needs of the occupants while “gracefully” withstanding the elements.

TOTALLY AWESOME!

- Eddy

Are Prefab Homes Ready for the Mass Market?

My dream home from BLU HOMES

Bom Dia!

I came across this article in my newsletter from SOURCEABLE, 
'Are Prefab Homes Ready for the Mass Market?'

As you all already know, I strongly believe in modular homes.  But in the back of my mind, I always wondered - Why hasn't this caught on?

The advantages of prefab building:

• The price  of a manufactured home is significantly less than a site-built home.

• Semi-custom homes coast 20 - 40 percent less per square foot than a standard stick-built home.

•  Unlike site built homes, prefab homes are not exposed to the elements. The sections are built indoors and put together on site.

• Waste is reduced because the material is managed more closely.

• Low-cost factory-built homes are often sold like cars, with a selection available on a dealer's lot, meaning a buyer can have a new home on site in a matter of days.

Pre-Fab home from Wallace Creek

Black Glass Modular Home Design by A-Cero

As you can see from the images I selected for today's blog, these homes can be very SEXY!!

Pre-Fab homes are manufactured in a way that reduces it's impact on the environment and they cost 40-50 percent less than a regular stick home.

Do an internet search on Pre-fab homes and will be amazed at all of the possibilities!!


- Eddy

Giorgio Caporaso Ecodesign Collection

Olá!

Recently, I came across a new eco-sustainable furniture collection for the Hotel and Catering industry in my recent email from Archiproducts.

The Giorgio Caporaso Ecodesign Collection of high-performance innovative products, which are stylish and can be customized to meet an endless array of tastes and requirements. Modular systems and convertible objects that can be repaired, are easy to assemble and disassemble and designed to accommodate the multifarious needs of hotels, restaurants and public houses and bars of the third millennium. 

The pieces that caught my attention are cardboard.

MORE LIGHT Ecodesign Bookshelf

X2CHAIR - Cardboard armchair / lounge chair

X2CHAIR - Wood armchair / lounge chair

When I saw the X2CHAIR in wood, it reminded of the movement in the artwork of my friend João Galrão.  I LOVE his series entitled 'Moments in Pleasure'.  Click on his name to see more of his impressive work.

LARGE JET - Series, Moments of pleasure

Tchau,

Eddy

Bricks Grown From Bacteria

Brick Grown From Bacteria

Olá,

Recently, I came across this article on ArchDaily - BRICKS GROWN FROM BACTERIA.

BioMason is a start-up company that has developed a method of growing bricks from microorganisms and naturally abundant materials.

This method has no negative impact on the environment compared with concrete, glass, steel and wood:

“global cement production in 2008 amounted to 2.8 billion tons, with equivalent quantities of CO2 released into the atmosphere”. The energy intensive series of processes, ranging from extracting of the raw material, transportation, and fuel sources for heating kilns, contribute to the fact that “40% of global carbon dioxide emissions are linked to the construction industry.  - bioMason

Recently, I have become very interested in BIOMIMICRY - the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. (Wikipedia)

The method discovered by bioMason 'mimics' nature by combining bacteria with a nutrient, nitrogen and calcium source and allows for the formation of natural cement in ambient temperatures.  The materials for biocements are inexpensive, globally abundant and can be sourced from waste byproducts.

BioCement being grown 

The best part is that biocements take less than 5 days to produce a pre-cast material.

I see so many possibilities using this method and the best part, it does not negatively affect the environment.

Mother Nature is SO AWESOME!!

- Eddy

Eco-Friendly Upholstery

Olá!

Recently, I finished my first Interior Design course - MATERIALS.  I learned so much and you should see the back of my SUV - FULL OF SAMPLES!!!!

I have decided to share some of the things that I learned in my MATERIAL class.

Eco-Friendly Upholstery

One of the topics in my course was UPHOLSTERY.  One of my main goals of becoming an Interior Designer is to incorporate as many materials that are ECO-FRIENDLY/SUSTAINABLE in my designs.

The Upholstered Sofa I Designed for my course

I fell in love with upholstery from BRENTANO FABRICS. 

"At Brentano, we have developed green criteria for our fabrics that reflect the diverse and interconnected nature of sustainability. Our eco-fabrics include our high performance and high quality eco-friendly faux leathers, as well as beautiful upholstery patterns and contract textiles -- overall displaying an uncommon variety of design and versatility available in environmentally-conscious textiles. The Brentano Green fabric label demonstrates our commitment to pursuing green mindfulness while designing textiles with beauty + performance in mind.

In order to qualify for the Brentano Green label, our fabrics must comply with green standards in at least two of the following three categories: raw material, process, and facility and social responsibility."

Brentano Fabrics

Here is the Brentano Fabrics Sample Board I created for my class.

I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I saw it! 

I will be sharing more from my Materials Course soon!

- Eddy

Idea For A Mid-Century Pre-Fabricated Home

Jean Prouvé

Olá,

This morning while reading the December 2013 issue of Elle Decor, I came across the an article that caught my attention about the mid-century architect and designer, Jean Prouvé .  

Dismantable House, Jean Prouvé

In 1944, he won a commission to design temporary housing for those displaced by World War II.  The wood and metal parts that made up the structures could be sent to locations in need and assembled by three people in one day.

Tropical House by Jean Prouvé

The project did not get past the planning stage and Prouvé used the same designs  to fashion prototypes for more permanent homes.

Since I have become interested in modular building, I thought it was a current concept.  But as I become more and more immersed  in modular building, I am learning that this concept has been around for a very long time!!!


- Eddy

Overhauled Tiny Fisherman´s Cottage

Ola,

I came across an article on how a tiny fisherman's cottage was REVAMPED!!! 

It is a great example of using an existing structure and remodeling, which is excellent for the environment!

Memories from a trip to Ireland that I had years ago came flooding back....  Ireland is such a beautiful country with so many beautiful people...

Fisherman's Cottage - Bray, Ireland

The 280-square foot cottage, built in the 1880s as a simple fisherman's cottage, is a piece of Irish history in Ireland's coastal town of Bray.  The client, who grew up in Bray, envisioned converting the small cottage into as a small vacation home.

The client wanted to keep the cottage's exterior.  Due to its history, the cottage is listed as a protected structure, which meant that it could not be knocked down and work had to be done within its tiny footprint.

The cottage had no front or back garden and had only one tiny toilet that was only accessible from the outdoors.

The living area before the renovation

Water pouring in through a leaky roof caused damage throughout the home.

Cube with Stairs leading to the Sleeping Loft

Colm Doyle and DMVG Architects helped transform this tiny space into something habitable and sunny. Doyle decided to create a modern interior which revolves around a plywood cube that divides the room by activity, creating an open feel

Kitchen before the remodel

Being that the fisherman's cottage had been unoccupied for 10 years, the house had no functioning gas or electric system.  The kitchen was very outdated with a mix of different tastes and styles.

Kitchen after the remodel

The rear side of the cube now holds the kitchen and additional storage. 

Sleeping Loft

The spacious sleeping loft takes advantage of the cottage's sloped ceilings.  The large skylights let in afternoon and evening light, but keep the room from becoming too bright in the morning.  The closet and storage space built into the wall eliminates the need for a dresser or wardrobe.

I found a great quote to sum up my feeling of this renovation:

"I've found you've got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light." - John Coltrane

- Eddy